WELLINGTON CONVENT SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 26, Issue 349, 26 December 1879, Page 9

WELLINGTON CONVENT SCHOOLS.

Ev*,by one interested in the progress of Christian education in New Zealand will read with real satisfaction the account of the exercises which have closed the scholastic year and ushered in the Christmas vacation for the pupils of the estimable and flourishing schools of St. Mary's Convent Wellington. The examination of the different classes has been conducted during the past week by the Most Rev. Dr. Eedwood who takes the kindest and deepest interest in the advancement of the school. His Lordship and the rev. clergy of Wellington attend at the end of each term to test the progress made by the pupils in each of the many branches in which they receive instruction. There are not many schools inNew Zealand, that can present so extensive a programme of studies, and offer proof of such a solid method of instruction as that pursued by the Sisters, which has won for their scholars the deserved applause they have received during Ihe last few days. The first class course of studies for the past year has comprised English history, geograpby, arithmetic, English grammar and composition, ancient history, universal modem history, geology, physics, botany, geometry, elementary algebra, classical biography, astronomy, use of the globes, and the French and German languages. The following schedule of the distribution of studies in this class for the terms ending at Easter, August and Christmas, will possess interest for many. I. CLASS. CHBISTIAN DOCTRINE. Easter. — Detailed Exposition of the Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist. August. — Catechism of Perseverance — Chapters on the Articles. Christmas. — Do. do. do. XXIV. to XLlli. OLD TESTAMENT. Easter. — From Rebuilding of the Temple to Christ. August. — History of the Judges. Ruth. Christmas. — From Saul to the Assyrian Captivity. NEW TESTAMENT. Easter.— Public Life of Christ. August. — The Parables — their meaning. Christmas. — From raising of Lazarus to the Ascension. GKAMMAB. Easter. — Parsing and Analysis. Prose rendering of Verse. August. — Do. do. Structure of English Nouns. Christmas. — Structure of Complex Sentences. Laws of Syntax (Morell). GEOGRAPHY (WITH MAP DRAWING). Easter. — Physical Africa Political Egypt, Barbary States, Guinea. (Map of Africa.) August.— Physical Asia. Political India and China. (Map of Asia.) Christmas. — Physical America. Political British America and United States. (Maps of Asia, Africa, America, New Zealand, from memory.) ENGLISH HISTORY. Easter.— Details of the Reigns of the Tudor Sovereigns. August.— Details, from James T. to Charles 11., inclusively. Christmas. — Details from James 11. to Declaration of American Independence. ARITHMETIC. Easter. — Value and Reduction of Vulgar Fractions. August— Four first Rules applied to Vulgar Fractions. Christmas.— Recapitulation. ANCIENT HISTORY. Easter. — From B.C. 490 to B c. 449. August.— From B.C. 449 to Punic Wars. Roman Outlines to Titus. Christmas. — From First Punic War to B.C. 100. Grecian Outlines. FRENCH HISTORY. Easter.— -General Outlines. Particulars of Merovingians and Carlovingians. August.— Capetians to Philip IV. Christmas.— Outlines from Philip IV. to the Battle of Waterloo. BOTANY. Easter. — Enlarged knowledge of Floral Structure. August.— Study of Fruits. Christmas. — Elementary Principles of Classification of Plants. ASTBONOMY AND USE OF THE GLOBES. Easter.— The Zodiac. Climates and Seasons. Recapitulation of last year's Studies. August— Explanation of Diagiams on Johnston's Chart 11. ! Problems. Chi i&tmas.— Johnston's Chait 111. l(j Problems on Globes. PHYbICS. Easter.— Heat. The Atmosphere. August.— Propei ties of Matter. Light. Magnetism. Water. OEOMKTRY. Easter. — Definitions and Problems regarding Rectilineal Figures. Augutt.— Do. do. do. Circles. Christmas.— Recapitulation. FRENCH. Ollendorff. to Lesson 42. Le Bourgeois Gentilbomme. GERMAN. Otto's Grammar to Aux Verbs, (inclusive). Joan of Arc. CLASSICAL BIOGUAPHY. Chief British Literary (Jharacters from Chaucer to Tennyson. ALGEBRA. To Easy Simple Equations. Recitations from Scott and Bell, and Translation of Schiller's " MaryStuart."

Time and space do not allow more than a mere statement of the result of the examinations, which extended over three days, and gave the highest satisfaction to all who witnessed them. The young ladies proved, by their answers to the questions proposed by Lie Lordship and others, that they are perfect mistresses of every bubject laid down in the (schedule, the correct and olegaut language in which they eipiebbed themselves testifying to the care which is taken to hum

them to the art of good and easy conversation, so desirable for a young lady. On the even«ngs of Tuesday and Thursday, the 9th and 11th mat., the parents of the young lady pupils, and many other of the leading ladies and gentlemen of Wellington were invited to be present at an entertainment given by the young ladies. The beautiful and spacious schoolrooms were filled to overflowing on each evening. A charming proscenium was erected in the study hall, a room allotted through the year to the special use or the young lady boarders after and before school hours, the folding doors which separate it from the school-room being replaced on this occasion by the curtain. The programme for the first evening consisted of a German play, scenes from Schiller's "Joan of Arc," and "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" by Moliere. The really splendid manner in which the young ladies bore the different characters, the correctness of the accent with which they rendered the German and French, and the brilliancy of their powers of elocution literally astonished all present, and elicited immense applause which has been echoed in the columns of the different papers of Wellington. Miss Josephine Bonnington as Joan of Arc, Miss Reeves as King Charles VII., also Miss Redwood and Miss Scully, in their respective characters, were particularly commended for their wonderful fluency in German. In the French piece, Miss Goulter, Miss Reeves, Miss Grace, and Miss Redwood deserved especial credit foi their accent and delivery. The last-named young lady promises to be an excellent French scholar. The young ladies seemed to be as much at home in their foreign parts as if they had been speaking their native tongue, and the spirit and tone in which they delivered themselves showed that they understood every word they spoke. The foreign plays were followed by a charming little burlesque entitled " Beauty and the Beast," in which the youngest pupils of the school had a good opportunity of displaying their powers of memory and recitation. Miss Grace personated the fairy Silverstar with great success, and her sister, Miss Maude Grace, made a first-rate " Beast," her costume being capitally got up. Peals of laughter hailed her appearance at supper by the side of " Beauty," which character was very prettily sustained by Miss Brunet*a Cimino. The proud sisters — Miss Emily M'Guire and Miss Lizzie M'Caffery— also deserve great praise, the latter being a little girl of about five or six years of age, who charmed everyone with her clear, well-toned utterance. Twelve little children acted as attendant fairies, and performed a fairy dance with great skill. The interludes were well filled with some choice performances on the pianoforte by Misses Reeves, Graham, Bonuington, and other of the Convent pupils, whose execution and musical taste reflect the greatest credit on themselves and their teachers. On Thursday night, the performances consisted of an historical drama portraying portions of the life of Mary Queen of Scots, her imprisonment at Lochleven, where she signs the document of abdication iv favour of James VI. ; her escape from that castle ; later on she appears in her captivity at Fotheringay Castle, on the eve and morning of her execution. The following is the programme of that evening's entertainment : — Entree.— Hallelujah Chorus ; solo on three pianos, played by Miss Tabor, Miss Hall, Miss Murray. Mary Queen of Scots, at Loch Lcven and Fotheringay.— Marr Queen of Scots, Miss Grace ; Elizabeth, Queen of England, Mis* Goulter ; Lady Douglas, of Locli Leven, Miss Bras»ey : Lord George Douglas, Lord Lindsay, Lord Ruthveu, Sir Robert Melville (Scotch Peers), Miss Reeves. Miss Scully. .Miss Murray, Miss Buraes ; Sir Amias Paulet, Miss Redwood ; Loid Burleigh, the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Earl of Kent (English Peers), Miss Scully, Miss Brassey, Miss Ross ; Jean Kennedy, Catherine Seaton, Margaret Kurl (Mary's Maids), Miss M. Grace, Miss Boardman, Mi&g A. Compton ; Burgoyne, her physician, Miss J. Mitchell ; Davison, Elizabeth's secretary, Miss A. Saunders ; Roland Graham, Miss Bennet ; Sandy Macfarlane, Miss Worthington ; Jasper Drysdale, Miss Crombie ; Page, Miss Luckie. Soldiers, Ladies in waiting, Sec. Interludes. — Recitation, " Mary Queen of Scots," by Bell, recited by Miss Compton. ex-pupil of the Convent; " Auld Lang Syne," piano solo, Miss ReeTes ; " Echoes from Erin," piano solo, Miss McDonald; " Robert le Diable," piano solo. Miss Graham; "Silver threads among the gold," piano solo by Miss Bonuington ; " The Meeting of the Waters," piano solo, Miss Reeves ; " Oberon," duet, Misses M. Grace, J. Bonnington. Frederick of Prussia, or the Monarch and the Mimic. — Frederick the Great, Miss Goulter ; Stolbach, a famous mimic, Miss Scully ; Countess Plotzen. Miss Graham ; Captain Niddermannersteinchowvancowingen, au Austrian officer, Miss A. Cimino : Baron Kercherwasser, Miss Worthington ; Camilla Schmidt, Miss McDonald: Brochette, little French cook, Miss Redwood ; Aide dc Camp, Miss Chapman. Prussian and Austrian soldiers, officers, guests, &c. Finale.— Chorus— " God save the Queen." Miss Grace, as Mary Queen of Scots, showed a sentiment and appreciation of the task she had undertaken not to be expected in a child of 12 oi 13 years of age. Her delivery was astonishingly perfect, as was also that of Miss Goulter, who acted Queen Elizabeth. Miss Redwood was repeatedly applauded for her clever and natural rendering of Sir Amies Paulet, Mary's gaoler. The other principal character were taken very coeditably by the Mi=ses Reeves, Scully, Maud Gracv, Burnes, and Annie Saunders. The charm of the piece was tnluuced by a beautiful scene painted by one of the Sisters, repres.ent.ng Lochleven, its island and castle, and the opposite shore of Kinross. Bell's beautiful poem, " The scene was changed." wa3 feelingly recited by Miss Coniptou, and at the commencement of the; fifth vei-,f a curtain at the back of the stage was iaised disclosing the landscape. Aother pretty moonlight scene, also the work of a Si>ter, added greatly to the interest of the scene of the escape of Mary from Lochleven. The play throughout was a perfect success, and impressed the audience with a very high idea of tbe excellence of the school. Frederick of Prussia was a clever comic play, full of amusing scenes. Mi«s Goulter and Miss Scully performed capitally as the Monarch and the Mimi^, while Miss Redwood uiforded the highest amusement as the littk" French cook, a difficult part, which she filled to peifeclioi\ Mi«s Graham and Miss Cummins also did particularly well. r'mby morning was fixed for the distribution of priz-s. Hie

l^? 8 ??*?• the rev< clergy P resided > and there was a good attendance of ladies and gentlemen. A sacied hymn, •• Jubilantes," was deverly sung in parts by the pupils, with ace« mpanimenton the barttomurn by MlSsM IS s Graham. After which several select pieces of music, solos, and duets were perf 01 mcd on se -eral pianos with great taste and skill, testifying highly to the proficiency in music. The Marche aux Flambeaux" especially, a duet played on four pianos t£ the Misses Graham, Goulter, M'Donald, Kedwood, thapman, worthington, Bonnington, and Scully, was highly applauded. Next tollowed the presentation to his lordship of au alb, bordered with an exquisite piece of lace three yards in length, and more than one yard in depth, the work of the young ladies. An address of presentation was read by Miss Redwood. The school-room was decorated with drawings, paintings, and illuminations, the work of the pupils and a table covered with specimens of their needlework and flower-inakine occupied the centre of the school-room. There were also piles of exercise books, which were highly admired for their neatness and correctness ; also a quantity of maps, which bore witness to their freographical knowledge, for the pupils are required to draw from memory the maps of every country which they study. An excellent map of the two Americas, drawn from memory at the examination was to be eeen on the blackboard. The botany books, containing specimens of dry flowers and their organs, collected by the young ladies, and classified as illustrating notes of the lessons they received w^re especially interesting. All these were handed round for inspec1 c P rizes were then distributed as shown in the accompanying

Fiest Class.— Prizes : Good conduct and politeness, Miss UTabam ; uniform amiability of conduct, Miss B. Redwood • Christian doctrine, Miss A. Scully Ist, Miss A.Cimino2nd ; HisLo'idship's prize (£5) for composition, history, and geography, Miss Graham • -ttid prize for composition, Miss A. Goulter ; 3rd prize for composition and history, Miss Scully ; Ist prize for recitation, Miss Scully • history, Miss A. Goulter ; 2nd prize for geography, Miss A Scully • grammar, Miss A. Cimino (Ist division), Mihs B. Kedwood f2nd' division) ; arithmetic, Miss A. Cimino, Miss M. Sheridan (2nd division) : special subjects, Miss A. Goulter Ist, Mis,s E. Grace 2nd • tlT lglilisSl gl i lisS Graham ; Scripture history, Miss E. Grace ; pianoforte' Miss A. Giaham Ist, Miss M 'Donald 2nd ; drawing, Miss A Goulter Ist, Miss Cimino 2nd ; needlework, Miss E. Worthington • French language, Miss A. Goulter ; German language, Miss B. Redwood • German recitation, Miss J. Bonnington ; order, Miss E. Worthington : application, Miss Kane ; paper flower-making, Miss A Goulter ' Accessits.— Christian Doctrine, Ist, M. Ahem; 2nd, A. Goulterf^'7?v° r - £<?? m P° sition - lhfc - M - E - Grace; 2nd, B. Redwood '; drd, F. Tabor. History, Ist, A. Scully ; geography, A. Goulter A Cimino. Giammar, A. Scully ; arithmetic, Miss A. M 'Donald • special subjects, Ist, A. Graham, —Tabor; Scripture history A Graham ; pianoforte, F. Bonnington ; drawing, A. Graham -German language, E. Worthington. ' Second Class.— Piizes : Christian Doctrine, Ist Miss E Grace ■ 2nd, Miss M. Burns. Scripture histoiy, Miss M. Grace • 'English history Miss N. Ahem ; geography, Miss J. Mitchell ; 'grammar, Miss J. Bonnington; writing. Miss A. Connell ; arithmetic Miss Koch; recitation, lht, Miss M. Grace; 2nd, Mis- Saundars Composition, Mi«s Mitchell ; map drawing, Miss Brassey ; order Miss Lompton; needlework, Miss Brassey; French, Miss E Taborregular attendance, Miss B. Cimiuo ; general improvement, Miss k' *rankel; music, Miss A. Chapman; application to study, Miss M Ross. Accessits.— Christian doctrine, Ist, Miss J. Bonnington • 2nd Miss M. Grace. Scripture history, Miss M. Ross; English hi'stoiy' MissM. Grace; geogiaphy, Miss A. Compton ; grammar Miss A Saunders ; French, Miss A. Cimino.

Third Class.— Prizes : Good conduct and politeness Miss Boardness ; Christian doctrine, Miss Tinman ; Scripture history Miss B. Cimino ; English history, Miss M. Ahem ; grammar Miss E Macguire ; geography, Miss A. Luckie ; writing. Miss V Grey • recitation, Miss B. Cimino ; needlework, Miss A. Chapman • regular attendance, Miss M. Ahem ; arithmetic, Miss K. Boaidman •' French Miss B. Redwood ; music, Miss E. Maguire ; general improvement' Miss A. Tabor. '

Fourth Class.— Prizes: Christian doctrine, Miss M'Caffery • reading and spelling, Ist, Miss H. Pczzi ; 2nd, Miss M Grey : writing Miss X Maguire ; spelling, MissF. Tabor ; general i'mproveinent, Miss E. Fitzgerald and Mi&s O'Neal ; regular attendance Miss J. Magmnity ; recitation, Miss M'Caffery. His Lordship's prize, which consisted of a handsome clock and an exquisite little woik-box, was awarded for English Composition Geography, and History. The young competitors for that honourable premium were rrquired to write without the aid of books of reference and without previous announcement of the subject a composition' the matter of which was an abstract of French history fiom the outbreak of the great French revolution to the uownfal) of Napoleon It was gratifying to listen to the applause which the bearers Tof the prizes for good conduct and amiability and his Lordship's prize received from their companions as their names were read aloud, a proof of the merit of the recipients and the good spirit that exists in the school. A very pretty ceremony followed the distribution of piizes This was the " crowning of the most amiable," or the placing wreathß of flowers emblematic of the good-will of their companions, on the heads of those who had been chosen by ballot in the different classes as deserving of the honour. The three young ladies thus favoured were Miss Graham in the first class, Miss Maud Grace in the second and Miss Maigaret Ahem m the third. His Lordship then addressed the children in terms expressive of his affectionate solicitude for their welfare. He began by thanking them for the handsome specimen of their needlework with which they had presented him, and which he valued both as a proof of tlieir skill and a token of their sentiments towards himself. He offeied them his warmest congiatulatu.ns on the unparalleled success which had attended all their efforts in their various exhibitions during tfee past week, and a^ured them of the pleasure it had been to him to superintend their examinations and

test the great pi-ogrees they had made during the year in every branch of their studies, which had gained fortht school the reputation for pre-eminence which it deservedly enjoyed. He said it was a true pleasure to him to own that this was due to the able tuition which they received, which, he could say with pride and without any fear of flattery, was second to none in New Zealand. (Hear, bear.) Ho Knew that the large audiences that had assisted at their beautiful dramatic entertainments had been highly delighted and surprised at such a splendid i display of ihcir abilities. Those entertainments, he said bad been for him a real intellectual twat. (Hear, hear.) He could also say with pride and without Battery that they might honoarably compete in Bucb exhibitions with the highest schools in Europe. Indeed, he had always found that the cbildien of New Zjealand, and of Wellington in particular, occupied a very distinguished place for talent and industry when compared with those of oder countries. He attributed this to the genial climate of the country, which contributed to the early development of their intellect and frame. He felt confident that the pupils of the Convent School, Wellington by joining religion to the cultivation of the mind and heart, would assist to a great degree in the laudable work of raising up a great race in this land, and thus help to make the colony a great nation, not only in wealth but in culture and the exercise of Christian Vlr u Ue i- j • Bpoke of tbe a PP r °aching vacation, of the delights embodied in the sweet word " Home "—of the joys of tbe reality, uome —congratulated the children on tbe arrival of the day which would restore them once more to their loved family circles, and bade them to be as rays of sunshine carrying brightness and joy into their homesteads. He wished them a curry Christmas and a happy newyear, announced th.at the s -hool will re-open on the 26th of January, when be hoped all would return full of spirit and courage to study well and begin another honourable contest for excellence, which he hoped might have as happy and successful a termination as that W iaa ™ y witnessed tbat morning. When his Lordship had concluded, Mr. C. C. Graham rose, and, in a ehort speech, returned thanks to the Sisteis, in the name of the parents of the children, for the care and attention which tbe latter received at their hands- He spoke of the high standard of education established in the school, bestowed very gieat piaise on tbe specimens of needlework, painting, and drawing inspected by the company, particularly on the numerous exercise books, which he considered unrivalled for their neatness and accuracy, and tbe best proof tbat could be given of the excellent tuition bestowed by the Sisters. He was surprised beyond measure at tbe progress made by the young ladies during the past year. He had had the pleasure of being present at the entertainment on -luesday evening, and the fluency with which the young ladies had spoken the French and German languages had utterly astonished him. The tone and expression in w hicb they had recited proved that they must have understood perfectly every word they uttered. He considered that the rapid progress of the pupils spoke most highly for tbe excellence of the method of teaching pursued by the Sisters, and which entitled the school to a pre-eminent rank among establishments of the kind. He again thanked the Sisters for their efforts on behalf of their pupils, and congratulated them on the success which attended their efforts. The hymn " God Bless the Pope " was sung by the young ladies, and the company withdrew.